App Store Preview

Mark II Artist's Viewfinder
4+

Shoot planning simplified

Screenshots

Description

Artist's Viewfinder assists the filmmaker or still photographer in exploring different places and angles to find the optimal placement for the camera, and to second-guess compositions. By simulating real camera and lens combinations it allows you to visualize what you are going to shoot without actually setting up the camera. And it's also a great tool to train yourself to see.

Handles Like Your Camera

Exposure compensation. Auto-focus lock. AF confirmation beep. A Quick Control Screen for accessing frequently needed functions. Smart Function Keys. Shutter release via the Volume Up button. We designed the Mark II so that you could feel at home the moment you start working with it. And because it also saves high resolution photos, you can even use it as a regular camera.

Visualize the Grand Landscape

Paired with a 0.5x-class super-wide converter lens*, the Mark II becomes an indispensable tool for landscape and architecture photographers. The combination can simulate super-wide lenses up to around 16mm on the full-frame 35mm format. Or you can use it to compose super-wide stitched images. The Mark II even removes distortion present in the wide converter lens — in real time.

In black & white mode Artist's Viewfinder shows just the luminance information of the scene, making it easier to explore tonal structures and simulate what a black & white photograph will look like. Taking it a step further, the optional dark and neutral toolbar theme ensures that colors from the app doesn't interfere with your composition.

Unprecedented Simulation Flexibility

The Mark II leverages our extensive Viewfinder Camera Database, containing more than 600 still and motion picture cameras, 150 medium/large format backs and countless lenses — incorporating real lens data for ALPA, Hartblei, Leica, Rodenstock, Schneider and Zeiss glass. And you can define your own cameras and lenses when you need something special for the job.

Does What Optical Viewfinders Can't Even Dream Of

Artist's Viewfinder stores location and simulation metadata with the pictures, allowing you to evaluate results of a location scout later on your computer. Or you can send the information off to the rest of the crew or to a rental house, right from the app. It also records a standard GPX format track log, alleviating the need for a separate logging device.

Want to Learn More?

The Viewfinder Handbook explains every single feature of the Mark II. It is an iPad optimized free PDF eBook available at: http://www.artistsviewfinder.com/handbook/

What's New

Version History

5.2.1

Jan 16, 2018

Fixes:• Corrected a problem with Fn Key 2 and Fn Key 3 not becoming disabled when necessary on Plus sized phones and on all iPad models.

5.2

Jan 2, 2018

New features:• The app is now optimized for iPhone X.• Smart Function Keys indicate the assigned function and the state of that function - such as whether Wide Mode or Black & White Mode is active, or whether a non-native aspect ratio is selected. In addition to the Fn Key(s), the EL and FL buttons will also become a Smart Function Key when their default function is overridden.• Two more customizable Fn Keys are available on iPhone X, all Plus sized phones and all iPad models.• The FL button changes title to AF when Continuous AF is off, reflecting that the button initiates AF operation.• Added support for restoring views through iTunes File Sharing. The Catalog should be rebuilt after a restore using "Rebuild Catalog" in the menu.• The Catalog automatically repairs minor corruptions to ensure that new views are always appear at the end.• Lab measured angle of views for iPhone X and iPad Pro 10.5".• Improved iOS 11 compatibility.

Changes:• The default for the Fn Key has changed to "Toggle Black & White Mode".

Fixes:• Corrected an issue where Real Lenses may show up as 0mm focal length on home screen quick actions.• Corrected a problem where a wrong camera's name might be displayed when launching the app from a home screen quick action.

5.1

Jul 26, 2017

New features:• Support for AirDrop/Message/iCloud/Notes sharing and Copy/Print actions as well as 3rd party extensions (such as Box and Dropbox) in the Catalog. An unlimited number of views can be used with AirDrop sharing and with the Export to Photos action. Other sharing services and actions are limited to 20 views at a time on 64-bit devices and 10 views at a time on 32-bit devices.• Long tap the export icon in the Catalog to select the view component (preview, high resolution JPG or RAW) to be used for sharing and actions. By default sharing and actions will use the preview.• Added support for 10.5" iPad Pro display size.

Changes:• Removed direct Dropbox support in favor of sharing and actions.

5.0

Jan 18, 2017

New features:• Black & white viewing mode.• Set exposure compensation by long tapping the main screen and sliding up/down. Tap and hold for 1 second to reset.• High resolution images can be saved and auto-exported in RAW, JPG and RAW+JPG formats.• Distortion correction is now applied to high resolution images.• Images exported to Photos are now placed in a separate album. The name of the album to use can be set in the menu.• New preference to control image stabilization (it's off by default).• New preference to control whether exposure lock also locks white balance.• New preference to hide inactive frames (that is non-masked frames when masking is used and non-highlighted ones when highlighting is used).• Tap the main screen with two fingers held close together to temporarily hide and show inactive frames.• Improved iPhone 7 and 7 Plus support in general.• Improved Catalog performance on iPhone 6 Plus, 6s Plus, 7, 7 Plus and iPad Pro 9.7".• Lab measured angle of views for iPhone 7 and 7 Plus.• Dual camera support on iPhone 7 Plus.• In single (non-continuous) AF mode the FL button initiates focusing.• The Change Aspect Ratio control on the Quick Control Screen becomes white when a non-native aspect ratio is in effect for the active virtual camera.• The Parallax/Shift control on the Quick Control Screen becomes white when parallax correction and/or shift simulation is set for the active virtual camera.• Custom wide converter conversion factor range expanded to 0.45x - 0.75x.• Selectable lens mount for cameras with interchangeable lens mounts and for cameras having different mount variants (such as EF and PL). Note that previously added cameras may continue to be listed with their mount variants separately.

Changes:• The app's internal "Album" has been renamed to "Catalog".• The "Display Processing" menu item replaces the former "Distortion Correction", as it now controls display resolution for both distortion correction and black & white mode.• Saving high resolution images to views is now disabled by default.• Exposure lock does not lock white balance by default.

Fixes:• Available wide converter list is now displayed correctly on iPhone 7, 7 Plus and iPad Pro 9.7".• Corrected a possible lockup when the 3D Level was activated with no virtual camera active.• Corrected Catalog behavior when the in-call or active personal hotspot status bar is displayed.• Fixed a possible crash when the Catalog is opened on devices running iOS 10.

4.7

Jul 19, 2016

New feature:• Ability to create a custom wide converter to use almost any converter lens on the market with the app, not just profiled ones. Simple distortion correction is supported for the custom wide converter.

4.5

4.4

Nov 25, 2015

New features:• Home screen Quick Actions for activating recently used virtual cameras and the album on 3D Touch capable devices.• Lab measured angle of views for iPhone 6s/6s Plus, iPad mini 4 and iPad Pro.• Improved focusing in progress feedback on iPhone 6/6 Plus and 6s/6s Plus when Continuous AF is used.• Support for iPad Pro in native resolution.

4.1

Feb 17, 2015

New features:• Improved performance on 64-bit devices.• Future devices are automatically supported using iOS provided angle of view data until precise lab measurements are completed. No more "Device not supported" messages!• Frame Size Adjustment option in the menu. Frame sizes can be fine tuned to your actual setup in a range of ±5%.• Camera and back quick search.• Added DCI 4K (~ 1.9:1) aspect ratio.• Frame highlighting with triple tapping the main screen as the default gesture. Double Tap option in the menu to choose the double and triple tap actions (highlighting or frame masks).

3.3

Jul 11, 2014

New features:• Added support for uploading views to Dropbox, with fine-grained control over what’s get uploaded.• Auto Export enables automatic export of images contained in a view (the preview and/or the full resolution) to the Camera Roll.• Storing full resolution images can be turned off in the menu.• Added Select All button in the album browser.• Map type can be changed between standard/satellite/hybrid.• Improved privacy: track logging is now disabled by default. This new default does not affect existing installations.

3.2

Mar 11, 2014

New features:• Added menu option to hide the AF/AE point when no focusing operation is in progress.• Additional "Dark & Neutral" color theme for the toolbar. It can be activated in the menu.• EL and FL buttons can be overridden to work like the Fn Key. The available function set is equal to the Fn Key's.

Fixed bugs:• Possible gray screen with no live view after switching to another app and back.• Possible hang or garbled live view on the iPhone 5s after disengaging exposure lock. Other devices are not affected. Live view is now stopped and restarted on the iPhone 5s when turning the exposure lock off.

3.0

Fixes:• Corrected a problem with Fn Key 2 and Fn Key 3 not becoming disabled when necessary on Plus sized phones and on all iPad models.

Ratings and Reviews

4.7 out of 5

18 Ratings

18 Ratings

elegant and useful

Aug 27, 2015

Hill Country Bob

For many years I have tried to find a reasonably priced optical director’s viewfinder on the web, eBay, B&H Photo, etc. They are out there but you get what you pay for and if you want quality, versatility and accuracy, it’s expensive. Enter the Mark II Artist’s Viewfinder. With it’s elegant and easy interface and compatibility with the current iPhones and third party lenses it is the answer I have been looking for. And the price is right! Some may balk at a +$25 app, but even combined with the cost of associated iPhone cases and lens attachments, it is quite a bargain compared to the outrageously expensive optical versions. Third party lens and case makers have caught up with the iPhone 6 so “this is the one, Neo.” I have been using it for about a month now and am completely satisfied. Customer support is excellent. Highly recommended.

elegant and useful

Aug 27, 2015

Hill Country Bob

For many years I have tried to find a reasonably priced optical director’s viewfinder on the web, eBay, B&H Photo, etc. They are out there but you get what you pay for and if you want quality, versatility and accuracy, it’s expensive. Enter the Mark II Artist’s Viewfinder. With it’s elegant and easy interface and compatibility with the current iPhones and third party lenses it is the answer I have been looking for. And the price is right! Some may balk at a +$25 app, but even combined with the cost of associated iPhone cases and lens attachments, it is quite a bargain compared to the outrageously expensive optical versions. Third party lens and case makers have caught up with the iPhone 6 so “this is the one, Neo.” I have been using it for about a month now and am completely satisfied. Customer support is excellent. Highly recommended.

Fully professional.

Mar 18, 2015

cjbrownfield

This app has fully professional features, an excellent tasteful interface and seamless execution. I am one of those eclectic professional photographers who would otherwise spend a small fortune on optical viewfinders for vintage and contemporary cameras--and never really be satisfied. After this app, I have everything I ever wanted in a viewfinder, some very well-designed logging and session planning tools, and a camera function with frame lines, exposure lock and focus lock. Overall, this excellent professional app upgrades the standard iPhone camera for pro photographers, and needless to say I'm never buying an optical viewfinder again.

Fully professional.

Mar 18, 2015

cjbrownfield

This app has fully professional features, an excellent tasteful interface and seamless execution. I am one of those eclectic professional photographers who would otherwise spend a small fortune on optical viewfinders for vintage and contemporary cameras--and never really be satisfied. After this app, I have everything I ever wanted in a viewfinder, some very well-designed logging and session planning tools, and a camera function with frame lines, exposure lock and focus lock. Overall, this excellent professional app upgrades the standard iPhone camera for pro photographers, and needless to say I'm never buying an optical viewfinder again.

Dramatically improves my pics

Feb 28, 2014

etrump

I was a huge fan of the original viewfinder app but this new version blows it away.

Being able to quickly pinpoint the best compositions and camera placements immediately allowed me to produce better images in less time.

This is also my favorite scouting tool. I have all of my crops including 6x17 panoramics setup as different cameras so I can easily switch between them.

Having easy access to all my lens and camera configurations avoids the hassle of switching lens as I work out the best composition. By using the ipro lens super wide lens with this app I have all of my glass covered. I know exactly which lens to pull out of the bag to get the shot. For a photographer shooting mainly prime glass this is a huge help.

Tech support is fantastic as well which was a bonus.

One if the best features is the WA lens correction which gives you a much better representation of the final image.

Dramatically improves my pics

Feb 28, 2014

etrump

I was a huge fan of the original viewfinder app but this new version blows it away.

Being able to quickly pinpoint the best compositions and camera placements immediately allowed me to produce better images in less time.

This is also my favorite scouting tool. I have all of my crops including 6x17 panoramics setup as different cameras so I can easily switch between them.

Having easy access to all my lens and camera configurations avoids the hassle of switching lens as I work out the best composition. By using the ipro lens super wide lens with this app I have all of my glass covered. I know exactly which lens to pull out of the bag to get the shot. For a photographer shooting mainly prime glass this is a huge help.

Tech support is fantastic as well which was a bonus.

One if the best features is the WA lens correction which gives you a much better representation of the final image.